Korean Concerns Filipinos

    This is an essay of a Korean that criticizes Filipinos on our love to our country. If a Korean concerns our country why don't we??? Its a shame on our part. How come that they love the Philippines much more than we do? We should take a lot of actions in order for us to be as wealthy and developed as Korea and other well-off nations.

    When I read this, it made me realized that corruption was not really and exactly the problem of our country. Corruption is just a product of not loving the country. Many Filipinos often complain on their poor-life situation. Why do we always blame the government, in general, on this sarcastic situation? Isn't it right to blame ourselves on the allegations we always try to throw to our government.

   Let us not waste time. Let us not make the moves when total destruction of our economy happens. I hope this essay of a Korean will made all of us realize the things we must do to create the new Philippines.

MY SHORT ESSAY ABOUT THE PHILIPPINES

Jaeyoun Kim

Filipinos always complain about the corruption in t he Philippines. Do you really think the corruption is the problem of the Philippines? I do not think so. I strongly believe that the problem is the lack of love for the Philippines

Let me first talk about my country, Korea. It might help you understand my point. After the Korean War, South Korea was one of the poorest countries in the world. Koreans had to start from scratch because entire country was destroyed after the Korean War, and we had no natural resources.

Koreans used to talk about the Philippines, for Filipinos were very rich in Asia. We envy Filipinos. Koreans really wanted to be well off like Filipinos. Many Koreans died of famine. My father & brother also died because of famine. Korean government was very corrupt and is still very corrupt beyond your imagination, but Korea was able to develop dramatically because Koreans really did their best for the common good with their heart burning with patriotism.

Koreans did not work just for themselves but also for their neighborhood and country. Education inspired young men with the spirit of patriotism.

40 years ago, President Park took over the government to reform Korea. He tried to borrow money from other countries, but it was not possible to get a loan and attract a &n bsp;foreign investment because the economic situation of South Korea was so bad. Korea had only three factories. So, President Park sent many mine workers and nurses to Germany so that they could send money to Korea to build a factory. They had to go through horrible experience.

In 1964, President Park visited Germany to borrow money. Hundred of Koreans in Germany came to the airport to welcome him and cried there as they saw the President Park. They asked to him, "President, when can we be well off?" That was the only question everyone asked to him. President Park cried with them and promised them that Korea would be well off if everyone works hard for Korea, and the President of Germany got the strong impression on them and lent money to Korea. So, President Park was able to build many factories in Korea. He always asked Koreans to love their country from their heart.

Many Korean scientists and engineers in the USA came back to Korea to help developing country because they wanted their country to be well off. Though they received very small salary, they did their best for Korea. They always hoped that their children would live in well off country.

My parents always brought me to the places where poor and physically handicapped people live. They wanted me to understand their life and help them. I also worked for Catholic Church when I was in the army. The only thing I learned from Catholic Church was that we have to love our neighborhood. And, I have loved my neighborhood. Have you cried for the Philippines? I have cried for my country several times. I also cried for the Philippines because of so many poor people. I have been to the New Bilibid prison. What made me sad in the prison were the prisoners who do not have any love for their country. They go to mass and work for Church. They pray everyday.

However, they do not love the Philippines. I talked to two prisoners at the maximum-security compound, and both of them said that they would leave the Philippines right after they are released from the prison. They said that they would start a new life in other countries and never come back to the Philippines.

Many Koreans have a great love for Korea so that we were able to share our wealth with our neighborhood. The owners of factory and company were distributed their profit to their employees fairly so that employees could buy what they needed and saved money for the future and their children.

When I was in Korea, I had a very strong faith and wanted to be a priest. However, when I came to the Philippines, I completely lost my faith. I was very confused when I saw many unbelievable situations in the Philippines. Street kids always make me sad, and I see them everyday. The Philippines is the only Catholic country in Asia, but there are too many poor people here. People go to church every Sunday to pray, but nothing has been changed.

My parents came to the Philippines last week and saw this situation. They told me that Korea was much poorer than the present Philippines when they were young. They are so sorry that there are so many beggars and street kids. When we went to Pasangjan, I forced my parents to take a boat because it would fun. However, they were not happy after taking a boat. They said that they would not take the boat again because they were sympathized the boatmen, for the boatmen were very poor and had a small frame. Most of people just took a boat and enjoyed it. But, my parents did not enjoy it because of love for them.

My mother who has been working for Catholic Church since I was very young told me that if we just go to mass without changing ourselves, we are not Catholic indeed. Faith should come with action. She added that I have to love Filipinos and do good things for them because all of us are same and have received a great love from God. I want Filipinos to love their neighborhood and country as much as they love God so that the Philippines will be well off.

I am sure that love is the keyword, which Filipinos should remember. We cannot change the sinful structure at once. It should start from person. Love must start in everybody, in a small scale and have to grow. A lot of things happen if we open up to love. Let's put away our prejudices and look at our worries with our new eyes.

I discover that every person is worthy to be loved. Trust in love, because it makes changes possible. Love changes you and me. It changes people, contexts and relationships. It changes the world. Please love your neighborhood and country.

Jesus Christ said that whatever we do to others we do to Him. In the Philippines, there is God for people who are abused and abandoned. There is God who is crying for love. If you have a child, teach them how to love the Philippines. Teach them why they have to love their neighborhood and country. You already know that God also will be very happy if you love others.

That's all I really want to ask you Filipinos.

2010 Philippine Holidays and Long-weekend Schedule

To those who are waiting for the upcoming holidays this year, I provided you the schedule so that you can prepare and  make your holidays memorable and fun! Advance Happy Holidays!!! =)

January 1 Friday
New Year's Day (five-day long weekend from December 30 to January 3)

February 22 Monday
EDSA Revolution Anniversary

April 1 Thursday
Holy Thursday

April 2 Friday
Good Friday (four-day long weekend from April 1 to 4)

April 9 Friday
Araw ng Kagitingan (three-day long weekend from April 9 to 11)

May 1 Saturday
Labor Day

June 14 Monday
Independence Day (three-day long weekend from June 12 to 14)

August 23 Monday
Ninoy Aquino Day (three-day long weekend from August 21 to 23)

August 30 Monday
National Heroes Day (three-day long weekend from August 28 to 30)

September (to be announced)
Eid'l Fitr (calculated September 10, possible three-day long weekend from September 10 to 12)

November 1 Monday
All Saints Day (three-day long weekend from October 30 to November 1)

November (to be announced)
Eid 'l Adha (calculated November 16)

November 29 Monday
Bonifacio Day (three-day long weekend from November 27 to 29)

December 24 Friday
Non-Working Holiday

December 25 Saturday
Christmas Day

December 27 Monday
Rizal Day (four-day long weekend from December 24 to 27)

December 31 Friday
Non-Working Holiday

January 1 Saturday
New Year's Day (three-day long weekend from December 31 to January 2)

**Taken from the Manila Bulletin Travel blog's post**

Earth Is At Critical Crossroads

Earth is at critical crossroads. While revolutionary advances in Science and Technology have lifted humanity to new heights of prosperity and longevity in many parts of the world, hundreds of millions of people are vulnerable to the impacts of hazards and natural disasters, extreme poverty, infectious disease and a host of the challenges. at the same time, human activity, especially in the last 100 years, is threatening the health of the environment and potentially posing risks of unprecedented magnitude to our shared future. This threat, of which is highly agreeable, is none other than global warming and climate change. 

Let us take time enumerating those things we do that terribly hurt Mother Earth. First is burning. Carbon Dioxide is produced when coal, oil and natural gas or fossil fuels are burned to produce energy used for transportation, manufacturing, heating, cooling, electricity generation and other applications. The use of fossil fuel currently accounts for 50 to 85% of the Carbon Dioxide being added to the atmosphere. Methane, on the other hand, is the second most important of the greenhouse gases resulting from human activities. It is produced by rice cultivation, cattle, and sheep ranching and by decaying material in landfills. Methane is also emitted during coal mining and oil drilling and leaky gas pipelines. Human activities have increased the concentration of Methane in the atmosphere by about 145% above what would be present naturally. Another thing with regard to this issue is the Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), which have been used in refrigeration, air conditioning and as solvents. However, the production of these gases is being eliminated under existing international agreement because they deplete the stratospheric ozone layer. Other fluorocarbons that are also greenhouse gases are being used as substitutes for CFCs in some applications. For example in refrigerator and air conditioning. Although currently very small, their contribution to climate change are expected to rise. Other hazardous human activities are of course, with no doubt, are the continuous cutting of trees and smoking. We all know that plants, like trees, take out Oxygen and take in Carbon Dioxide for their food-making process. Due to deforestation, large amount of carbon Dioxide stays on our planet and obviously contributes to global warming. Smoking, on the other side, not only brings perils to our health but more on our beloved Earth. It has the ability to destroy our lungs and the atmosphere, at the same time. Even if it emits little amount of hazardous gases, if the population of the people who smoke will continue to rise, surely, the effects would be much worse than ever. Being simply said, the number of smokers is directly proportional to the amount of gases that destroys the atmosphere.

Gifted with the highest level of intellect, I strongly believe that we can effectively fight global warming. We just need to know some simple facts about it. First, we have to be aware of the scientific consensus that global warming is real, is caused by human activities and presents serious challenges. Scientists working on this issue reported that the observed global warming cannot be explained by natural variations such as changes in the Sun’s output or volcanic eruptions. The most authoritative source of information is the United Nation’s Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) which draws upon the collective wisdom of hundreds of scientists from around the world. Second, we have to be quite alarmed that the Earth’s average temperature has risen about 1 degree Fahrenheit in the past 100 years and is projected to rise another 3 to 10 degrees Fahrenheit in the next 100 years. While Earth’s climate has changed naturally throughout time, the current rate of change due to human activity is unprecedented during at least the last 10000 years. The projected range of temperature rise is wide because it includes a variety of possible future conditions, such as whether or not we control greenhouse gas emission and different ways the climate system might respond. Third and lastly, we have to know and understand that global warming will have significant impacts on people and nature. As temperature continue to rise, precipitation is projected to give more frequently in the form of heavy downpours. We can probably expect more extreme wet and dry conditions. Coastal areas will become more vulnerable to storm surges as sea level rises. Plant and animal species will migrate or disappear in response to changes in climate. While global warming will have impacts on natural and human systems all around the world, the largest impacts will be on many natural ecosystems and on people who lived in developing countries and have few resources and little ability to adapt. All of these things, obviously, are the things we need to know in order for us to finally have the initiative to take actions as soon as possible.

We, as God’s creations that serve as His instrument to take care of this world, can truly minimize our personal impacts on Earth. Yes we can…First, let us reduce, reuse and recycle. Let us do our part to reduce waste by choosing reusable products instead of disposables. Buying products with minimal packaging (including the economy size when that makes sense)will help reduce waste. And whenever we can, we should recycle paper, plastic, newspaper, glass and aluminum cans. By recycling half of our household waste, we can save 2,400 pounds of Carbon Dioxide annually. Next, let us save electricity and reduce global warming by turning off lights, and appliances when not in use. It is also a good idea to turn off water while brushing teeth, shampooing the dog or washing a car until we actually need it for rinsing. By this, we shall reduce our water bill and help to conserve a vital resource. Afterwards, let us buy energy-efficient products. Home appliances now come in a range of energy-efficient models, and compact fluorescent bulbs are designed to provide more natural-looking light while using far less energy than standard light bulbs. Let us avoid products that come with excess packaging, especially molded plastic and other packaging that cannot be recycled. If we reduce our household garbage by 10 percent, we can save 1,200 pounds of Carbon Dioxide annually. Then, if we have free time and means to plant tree, let us start digging. A single tree will absorb approximately one ton of Carbon Dioxide during its lifetime. Finally, let us encourage others to conserve by sharing information about recycling and energy conservation with our friends, neighbors and relatives, and take the opportunities to encourage public officials to establish programs and policies that are good for the environment. Following these steps will take us a long way toward reducing our energy use and our monthly budget. Of course, less energy use means less dependence on the fossil fuels that create greenhouse gases and contribute to global warming.

Global warming is a huge environmental and economic challenge that we are facing in the 21^st century. However, it occurs so gradually. Because of that, we still have much time to remedy the situation before any disasters take place. Let us use this time wisely. Come on and let us hold hands for the betterment of the next generations to come. Best of luck to all of us!